Eric previously was the founding and principal attorney of litigation boutique Creizman PLLC, which he established in June 2011. Before starting Creizman PLLC, Eric practiced litigation at the international law firms of Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Heller Ehrman LLP, and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. Eric is well known for handling high profile and complex white collar criminal defense cases. He has been lead defense counsel on several federal criminal trials, including securing an acquittal for a defendant in a seven-week Medicare fraud trial in the Eastern District of New York, which was featured on CNBC’s American Greed, and securing a hung jury in an eight-week health care fraud trial in the Southern District of New York, which, at the time, was the largest no-fault insurance fraud prosecution ever brought by that office. Eric has represented individuals in federal criminal investigations and prosecutions for securities fraud, ponzi schemes, environmental offenses, cybercurrency and Bitcoin-related offenses, and government procurement fraud, among others.

“Our New York office continues to expand at an unprecedented rate,” said firm Managing Partner John M. Pierce. “The litigation talent joining the firm is unrivaled anywhere in the country. Having Eric on board gives our criminal defense practice an edge that can’t be matched by any firm of any size. There is no question that he is one of the preeminent white collar attorneys in New York.”

In addition to his “white collar” practice, Eric regularly appears as an expert personality across television and print media. He has deep experience in representing individuals and corporations in corporate internal investigations, in regulatory investigations and proceedings, and in complex commercial litigation. Eric received his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a James Kent Scholar. Eric has lectured for CLE programs and has published numerous articles in legal industry publications. He is also the co-author of a chapter on federal criminal discovery in a treatise published by Law Journal Press, Defending Federal Criminal Cases: Attacking the Government’s Proof.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join such a talented roster of attorneys,” said Creizman. “Pierce Bainbridge has already made a name for itself as being the best, fastest, and most relentless team in the business. I have always practiced with the Navy SEAL mentality John Pierce has instilled in the firm, and I’m looking forward to taking the team to an even higher level.”

Also joining the firm is Melissa Madrigal. Melissa previously was a partner at Eric Creizman’s Creizman PLLC and before that worked for a prominent white collar criminal defense boutique in Miami, Florida. She has represented individuals and corporations in grand jury investigations, pre-indictment advocacy, motion practice and hearings, jury trials, and sentencing, restitution, and forfeiture proceedings. Melissa has also handled several federal criminal appeals and other post-conviction motions. Melissa has been recognized as a “rising star” in the area of white collar criminal defense by Super Lawyers every year since 2016. Melissa received her J.D. from Florida International University College of Law, and served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Adalberto Jordan, United States Circuit Judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

Eric and Melissa join Pierce Bainbridge white collar lawyers Christopher LaVigne and Caroline Polisi. Chris previously worked at white collar criminal defense boutique Lankler Siffert & Wohl LLP, was a law clerk for the Honorable Vincent Briccetti, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, and was a litigation associate at Skadden Arps. Chris has extensive criminal defense experience, and has represented numerous individuals facing criminal investigations and prosecutions brought by federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities. He has successfully navigated individuals through simultaneous governmental and internal investigations, and has secured non-incarceratory sentences for multiple clients facing 10 years or more in prison.

Recognized by Super Lawyers as a “rising star” in the area of white collar criminal defense, Caroline Polisi has represented numerous individuals in both the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and has experience handling investigations and prosecutions of banking fraud, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, bitcoin schemes, Ponzi schemes, insider trading, and conspiracy offenses. Caroline received her J.D. from Columbia University and began her legal career at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. She is a highly sought-after legal analyst and regularly appears on CNN and MSNBC as a legal commentator.

Under Eric’s leadership, Pierce Bainbridge now boasts one of the best criminal defense practices in New York. The firm’s New York office as a whole has grown exponentially in recent months, and it has plans to continue its expansion and domination in the near future.